Lithuanian chemists innovate durable material for next-gen solar cells

Lithuanian chemists innovate durable material for next-gen solar cells
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Mar 20, 2024

A team from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) in Lithuania has developed an innovative material poised to enhance the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This breakthrough, involving a novel 9,9'-spirobifluorene derivative, promises to address critical challenges in the longevity and performance of PSCs, heralding a more sustainable energy future.

Perovskite solar cells are celebrated for their exceptional power conversion capabilities and the potential for low-cost, scalable production from readily available materials. Despite their promise, enhancing the durability of these devices under real-world conditions remains a crucial hurdle for their widespread adoption. The KTU chemists' discovery of a thermally cross-linkable vinyl group-based material represents a pivotal solution, facilitating the creation of more robust and efficient solar cells through improved hole transportation.

Upon thermal cross-linking, the material forms a solvent-resistant, three-dimensional polymeric network. This network acts as an effective hole-transporting layer in both conventional and inverted perovskite solar cell architectures, leading to devices with superior power conversion efficiencies and operational stability. "The process of copolymerisation occurs at a relatively safe low temperature of 103C, reducing the risk to the sensitive perovskite layer," explains Sarune Daskeviciute-Geguziene, a PhD student at KTU and co-inventor.

The developed material not only surpasses traditional hole transporting materials in performance but also demonstrates commercial potential, with patent applications filed in the EU, USA, and Japan. This innovation stems from a collaborative effort, including contributions from Japanese scientists and Prof. Atsushi Wakamiya at Kyoto University, enhancing the credibility and international scope of the research.

Professor Vytautas Getautis, the lead researcher, underscores the strategic importance of solar energy as a sustainable and underutilized resource. With solar expected to account for a substantial portion of global electricity by 2050, the KTU team's contributions to improving solar cell technology are timely and potentially transformative.

Research Report:In Situ Thermal Cross-Linking of 9,9'-Spirobifluorene-Based Hole-Transporting Layer for Perovskite Solar Cells